Grinnell College and the University of Iowa have established a cooperative degree program leading to a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell and a Master of Public Health (MPH) through the University of Iowa (UI) College of Public Health, in one additional year.
The program enables Grinnell students to take four UI courses and earn 9-12 semester hours towards an MPH degree while completing their undergraduate degree. In consultation with the Grinnell Registrar and the UI College of Public Health, students may select from the following options:
- Take the online Fundamentals of Public Health course (3 semester hours) in the spring of the second year and take three graduate-level courses (9 semester hours) in the final year at Grinnell.
- Take four graduate-level courses (12 semester hours) in the final year at Grinnell.
Grinnell students apply for the MPH program by February 1 of their third year at Grinnell and are strongly encouraged to gain public health experience through internships, community service, and/or coursework prior to application. Students must have completed 80 semester hours and have a 3.25 GPA (3.5 for Epidemiology) when they apply for the program. At the time of entry into graduate standing, students must have a 3.0 GPA.
Students accepted into the program take UI courses as part of their fourth-year program that will count toward completing both Grinnell and MPH degree requirements. As with other off-campus study, students pay Grinnell tuition and receive financial aid while enrolled at Grinnell and Grinnell pays the program expenses. Subsequent to graduating from Grinnell, students’ fee and aid relationships are with the UI. Additional information is available at The University of Iowa Public Health site.
A liberal education is a good background for a career in public health, and Grinnell students may apply to any public health graduate program for which they meet the qualifications. Students should consult each program for application requirements.